Tm lewin suits???

I posted this to the thread on Lewin shirts started a couple of months ago, but I suppose the forum problems prevented that thread from moving back to the first page. Â Anyway, for those who get the Lewin catalogues, did you see that they now sell suits? Â They are very British: Â side vents, slanted pockets, ticket pocket, etc. Â Though they advertise that the regular retail price is about $900.00 (just like they advertise that reg. price on shirts is approx. $100.00, though no one ever pays that), they can be ordered for approx. $400.00 (half-price and minus hefty VAT). Â Catalogue says the suit jacket has a &quot;floating chest piece.&quot; Â I am not real sure what that means, but I imagine that, nevertheless, it is fused. Â For $400.00 I have considered taking the plunge (I can always return if not satisfied), as I like the details on the suit and would otherwise have to order custom or MTM for much more $$$$ to get a similar suit. Â I thought it would be fun to have a suit such as this with the slanted pockets, ticket pocket, etc. and this is the only way I see to get one for around $400.00. Â Has anyone seen the Lewin suit or can anyone offer any more info on quality? Â I think that if simply lives up to quality of Brooks Bros. fused &quot;Brooksease&quot; suits, it is probably worth it.

I posted this to the thread on Lewin shirts started a couple of months ago, but I suppose the forum problems prevented that thread from moving back to the first page. Â Anyway, for those who get the Lewin catalogues, did you see that they now sell suits? Â They are very British: Â side vents, slanted pockets, ticket pocket, etc. Â Though they advertise that the regular retail price is about $900.00 (just like they advertise that reg. price on shirts is approx. $100.00, though no one ever pays that), they can be ordered for approx. $400.00 (half-price and minus hefty VAT). Â Catalogue says the suit jacket has a &quot;floating chest piece.&quot; Â I am not real sure what that means, but I imagine that, nevertheless, it is fused. Â For $400.00 I have considered taking the plunge (I can always return if not satisfied), as I like the details on the suit and would otherwise have to order custom or MTM for much more $$$$ to get a similar suit. Â I thought it would be fun to have a suit such as this with the slanted pockets, ticket pocket, etc. and this is the only way I see to get one for around $400.00. Â Has anyone seen the Lewin suit or can anyone offer any more info on quality? Â I think that if simply lives up to quality of Brooks Bros. fused &quot;Brooksease&quot; suits, it is probably worth it.

Click to expand...

I bought one Lewin pinstripeds suits in London on January with 50% off @250 GBP.

It is stiched good (seems not to be fused @ least fot the front, lapel and sleeve) and fabrics is very nice (good shine)

I think I should have taken 2 for this price.

So it is a good deal, far away better than disigner's suits at twice the price

Thanks Ernest. Â I went ahead and ordered one in Navy chalkstripe. Â When things sound too good to be true, they usually are. Â I hope it is not fused, but at this price I would not be bothered if it is fused, so long as it is done well. Â I feel better knowing that there is a satisfied customer who can confirm the value. Â

I would post pics when I receive, but unfortunately do not have a camera. Â I don't even own a computer at the moment. Â I sneak on here and the Ask Andy site while I am at work. Â Hopefully, Ernest will be able to post some pics soon.

Thanks Ernest. Â I went ahead and ordered one in Navy chalkstripe. Â When things sound too good to be true, they usually are. Â I hope it is not fused, but at this price I would not be bothered if it is fused, so long as it is done well. Â I feel better knowing that there is a satisfied customer who can confirm the value. Â

I would post pics when I receive, but unfortunately do not have a camera. Â I don't even own a computer at the moment. Â I sneak on here and the Ask Andy site while I am at work. Â Hopefully, Ernest will be able to post some pics soon.

Click to expand...

I hope your suit will be as good as mine.

Where have you found it? @ this price I would be ok to buy a chalk-striped.

Buttons are plastics but very close one from another on sleeves like on Smalto suit.

It is a six inch drop. Â I am a size 41, but would prefer size 33 or 34 trousers. Â But 35 is generally not too bad. Â I used to buy Brooks Brothers - separate jacket and trousers. Â Lately, I have gone to Samuelsohn - great suits, but I have to deal with size 35 trousers. Â I swore my next step would be MTM, probably Samuelsohn, but I could not resist trying this suit at the price. Â The slanted pockets and ticket pocket might be over the top for some, but I wanted to sample the style without spending much.

Ernest, to answer your question, I found it in the Lewin catalogue they mail out each month. This is the first month they have offered the suits by catalogue sale. I imagine they will be offered on the Lewin web site soon.

Be sure to post (hopefully with pics) when it arrives. Having purchased several of their shirts, I think of TM Lewin as being equivalent in quality to mid-range US department store goods, but having some styling touches that elevate them above that level in appearance--if you choose wisely.

Got the TM Lewin catalog, and I really like the styling of their suits (not to mention the price). Can anyone comment on the fit of the TM Lewin suits? I'm usually a 46L, but sometimes have to go up to 48L on some cuts of jacket because of my shoulders.

Also, I'm a little confused about sharkskin. To me, it conjures up images of shiny-suited mid-level mafia types. I must be mistaken, right?

It appears that my suit just shipped out a couple of days ago, so I will probably not receive until next week. It is hard to tell from the pictures what the sharkskin is actually like. I ordered the blue chalkstripe anyway. I can comment on size when it arrives. At this price though, if you like the suit you should just order as I did. TM Lewin has a very good return policy in case you do not like the fit or the material when it arrives. It is a pain to ship things back, especially overseas, but, in my opinion, it is worth the risk on deals like this.

I received the suit yesterday. Unfortunately, I am going to have to send it back. The trousers, while actually a size too big in the waist, are far too tight in the seat, rise and leg. This is often a problem for me, I have a big butt and large legs. These trousers are obviously not designed for guys with my build.

It is too bad, because I was actually pleased with the quality considering what I paid for the suit. I tested to see whether it was fused. I first checked near the front bottom of the coat - a little below the last button - and only felt two layers, not three as with a fully canvassed suit. However, neither of the layers was thicker than the other, so I do not think a lining was fused to either layer. I then went higher up the jacket and could feel three distinct layers, which led me to believe it was non-fused in this area. My only experience with non-fused though is with my Samuelsohn suits, which have that distinct third layer running all the way to the bottom of the coat. Perhaps this is half-canvassed or partially canvassed??? I don't know the term.

As for the material, it is a nice, but not great, super 100s merino wool. Although TM Lewin carefully packed the suit in a plastic bag, and then in a suit bag, it emerged from the package with some moderate creasing. I hung it in my bathroom at lunch (when I received it) and left it there as I returned to work for the rest of the day and went to dinner. About eight hours later, none of the creases had fallen out. In fairness, I did not steam up my bathroom and did not attempt to use my steamer to get any creases out. I don't know what this says about the fabric. I am not an expert in this area, I am just trying to describe my experience with the suit.

Overall, I was pleased with the suit. I tried on the coat a number of times before trying the trousers. I was conviced the suit would work, but then my big rear ruined it. Also, while I liked it, my wife felt the ticket pocket was a little too much - and she is probably correct for my conservative profession and location. If you like the styling of the suit, and you can wear slim fitting trousers, then I think this is good value at approx. $400.00.

For me, I suppose I will return to my first idea of jumping to MTM. One of my local haberdasheries offers Samuelsohn, while another offers Tallia at about $300.00 less. I am very familiar, and impressed, with Samuelsohn. Does anyone have any experience with Tallia???

It is too bad, because I was actually pleased with the quality considering what I paid for the suit. Â I tested to see whether it was fused. Â I first checked near the front bottom of the coat - a little below the last button - and only felt two layers, not three as with a fully canvassed suit. Â However, neither of the layers was thicker than the other, so I do not think a lining was fused to either layer. Â I then went higher up the jacket and could feel three distinct layers, which led me to believe it was non-fused in this area. Â My only experience with non-fused though is with my Samuelsohn suits, which have that distinct third layer running all the way to the bottom of the coat. Â Perhaps this is half-canvassed or partially canvassed??? Â I don't know the term. Â

Click to expand...

If you think the suit might be half-canvas, take a look at the back of the lapel. If the back of the lapel has lots of small dimples, it's got canvas lapels--those dimples would be the stitches holding the canvas to the back of the lapel.

I received the suit yesterday. Â Unfortunately, I am going to have to send it back. Â The trousers, while actually a size too big in the waist, are far too tight in the seat, rise and leg. Â This is often a problem for me, I have a big butt and large legs. Â These trousers are obviously not designed for guys with my build. Â

It is too bad, because I was actually pleased with the quality considering what I paid for the suit. Â I tested to see whether it was fused. Â I first checked near the front bottom of the coat - a little below the last button - and only felt two layers, not three as with a fully canvassed suit. Â However, neither of the layers was thicker than the other, so I do not think a lining was fused to either layer. Â I then went higher up the jacket and could feel three distinct layers, which led me to believe it was non-fused in this area. Â My only experience with non-fused though is with my Samuelsohn suits, which have that distinct third layer running all the way to the bottom of the coat. Â Perhaps this is half-canvassed or partially canvassed??? Â I don't know the term. Â

As for the material, it is a nice, but not great, super 100s merino wool. Â Although TM Lewin carefully packed the suit in a plastic bag, and then in a suit bag, it emerged from the package with some moderate creasing. Â I hung it in my bathroom at lunch (when I received it) and left it there as I returned to work for the rest of the day and went to dinner. Â About eight hours later, none of the creases had fallen out. Â In fairness, I did not steam up my bathroom and did not attempt to use my steamer to get any creases out. Â I don't know what this says about the fabric. Â I am not an expert in this area, I am just trying to describe my experience with the suit. Â

Overall, I was pleased with the suit. Â I tried on the coat a number of times before trying the trousers. Â I was conviced the suit would work, but then my big rear ruined it. Â Also, while I liked it, my wife felt the ticket pocket was a little too much - and she is probably correct for my conservative profession and location. Â If you like the styling of the suit, and you can wear slim fitting trousers, then I think this is good value at approx. $400.00. Â

For me, I suppose I will return to my first idea of jumping to MTM. Â One of my local haberdasheries offers Samuelsohn, while another offers Tallia at about $300.00 less. Â I am very familiar, and impressed, with Samuelsohn. Â Does anyone have any experience with Tallia???